Charles de Brosses

Charles de Brosses was an 18th-century French scholar and writer, best known for his work on the study of the indigenous peoples of the Americas and their cultures. He introduced the term "animism" to describe the belief system of many native tribes, which attributed spiritual essence to natural objects and phenomena. Brosses was influential in the early understanding of anthropology and the complexities of human belief systems. His ideas contributed to the broader discourse on religion, culture, and the understanding of "primitive" societies, promoting respect for diverse worldviews during a time of colonial expansion.